(CNN) — Once a sleepy town famous for its rice terraces and ethnic tribal cultures, Sapa -- a five-hour drive from Hanoi -- has grown in recent years to become one of the hottest tourist destinations in Vietnam. With a population of less than 140,000, the area welcomed more than 1.6 million visitors in the first half of 2019 -- accounting for 57% of tourists visiting the entire Lao Cai province. Along with this travel growth, naturally, has been an influx of new hotels. But the latest and arguably the first five-star international property is taking things to a new level. The glamorous Hotel de la Coupole was designed by Bill Bensley -- the mastermind behind some of Asia's most stunning hotels, like Rosewood Luang Prabang and Cambodia's Shinta Mani Wild -- and resembles a luxurious European palace from the early 20th century.
